Hope Archives - Life Hope

What has God given you?

Ian Denness — Sun, 02 Oct 2022 11:18:57 +0000

God has given us so much!

Many couldn’t think of anything… A few said, “Not much!”

What about sunsets, sunrises, flowers, life itself, love and friendships, as well as hope!

Certainly our own human weaknesses can destroy much happiness. There are also storms, floods, earthquakes and all other events that used to be called ‘acts of God’ in the insurance small print.

However, mostly we enjoy life, when we are able to thank God for all his goodness to us.

He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.
Acts 14:17 (www.laridian.com)

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Why Christmas presents?

Ian Denness — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 00:18:11 +0000

“It just feels nice”

That’s what someone wrote for this topic in the market. Another person put up, “The joy of giving people something they need.”

Consumerism

That summarized a comment – “A holiday started by corporations to make money.”

So, what is the reason for presents at Christmas?

The wise men from the east

There were some scholars who came from a country somewhere east of Palestine, according to the detailed narrative in the Bible. They purposely sought out the whereabouts of the baby Jesus, and were eventually led to the actual place in the town of Bethlehem where Jesus and his mother Mary were.

They then bowed down to Jesus, and presented him with very expensive gifts carrying great significance for his future life, ministry, and death.

The gifts were gold (for kings), frankincense (for priests), and myrrh (for the dead).

Good old Saint Nick!

Historically, another explanation is that of the man Nicholas, who lived in south-western Turkey in the 4th century. He had changed his faith from the predominant Greco-Roman paganism and had become a Christian before it had become legal. He then tried to secretly give poor people in his town gifts to help them in their lack. Sometimes he would hide the gifts in clothing, like long socks hung up in front of the fire to dry. People eventually found out that he was the secret gift-giver. Some time later, he was renamed Saint Nicholas, from which many centuries later the name and story eventually morphed into Santa Claus.

The original story is inspiring, and Jesus did say that it is better to give than to get!

In fact, nowadays, many followers of Jesus are leaving behind the consumerism and getting back to the basics, just wanting to thank God for sending Jesus. Why would we do that?

It obviously shows belief, but as well the evidence of his life 2,000 years ago, the depth and detail of descriptions about him in the Bible, and the way we claim he has dramatically changed our lives for the good, now and forever.

Why not open a Bible online and check out the first couple of chapters of the Gospel of Luke concerning the circumstances of his birth?

https://www.esv.org/Luke+1/

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What’s the most important item on your bucket list?

Ian Denness — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 11:02:32 +0000

When are you supposed to make a bucket list?

I guess you can never be too young!

To know God better is on my bucket list. That’s the God of the Bible. It is right at the top, followed by less special activities like travel or other priorities.

With that goes not only knowing him better, but also obeying better.

Jesus said:

“If you love me, keep my commands.

John 14:15 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

What about yourself?

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Why am I here anyway?

Ian Denness — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 05:58:29 +0000

We all have that question sometimes

Do you keep on remembering those times in your life? They can be milestones, or they can be dark nights of despair. Is there meaning in life?

It’s all very well for the guy in the picture – the sunrise is great, the sky is beautiful, and he may be greatly encouraged.

However, for many, they still haven’t found a satisfying answer.

Are we looking in the best places for the answers?

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Can Secular Atheism really give you meaning, morality and hope?

Ian Denness — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 06:20:00 +0000

Recently, a friend claimed that Secular Atheism gives him meaning, morality, and hope.

I found that incredible. I couldn’t see how that was possible. Unless, that is, we define meaning, morality and hope differently.

So, although a discussion could be prickly, we got talking about this in a serious way …

Secular Atheism

He believes there is no God, and desires to live in a society where there is no mention or dependence on anything spiritual. OK. That is his thought and that is his wish. I am the opposite of this in worldview and belief, but we can still relate!

Meaning

He thinks that he can make the most of his life by living with the worldview of evolution/big bang, incredible good luck, accidental existence, Existentialism and making the most of what ‘just so’ happens.

Morality

His argument was that since there is no creator, then no moral law maker or moral laws, and so you can do what you want, as long as you “don’t hurt anyone else”. But how many do get hurt?

Hope

Concerning this, well, he hopes he is right, and that at the end of the day, if not the end of his life, he will have been a help to others, as well as to himself. After that, nothing… As if the plug is pulled out of the electrical wall socket, and that’s it forever!

What will reality prove to be?

I don’t mean to sound critical, but I also have thoughts, and all of that just doesn’t fit with what I think reality, history, and the Bible show as a life of fulfilling meaning, morality and hope.

Meaning

– for me has become the desire and pleasure of seeking to please my wonderful Jesus in how I live and think. That for me has become so satisfying and fulfilling.

Morality

– comes from God’s directions in the Bible, so that it reads like: If you want to be happy, don’t act immorally. Remember, without holiness, no one will see God, a Bible principle. In case anyone is wondering, I don’t claim at all to have that level of holiness from just myself. No. Just the same as the rest of us. However, Jesus, as the Son of God, specifically came down from heaven to die for people like me on the cross, thereby taking my shame and judgement in my place, as my substitute. He came back to life again as he predicted, and that way gives me the holiness and forgiveness that I could get no other way.

Hope

– is such a positive word, but for hope to be real hope, living hope, it has to be based on solid foundations with evidence. I have found that hope to be in many of the words of Jesus. For example,

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

This can become a problem for some people as it definitely seems exclusive, which is anathema to many these days. Yes, it is exclusive, but that just shows that it is a truth claim, rather than just a nice thought claim, a nice wish, nice for me, but no one else.

What do you think?

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